Disorder and Order: What Two Rescued Dogs Taught Me About Love and Life

Disorder and Order: What Two Rescued Dogs Taught Me About Love and Life chronicles a chapter in the author's life in which two small, neglected, and abused dogs helped him work through past trauma and the everyday stress of caring for (and living with) his 85 year old (shut-in) mother and 55 year old brother (who has disabilities).

The book begins in January 2010, the author had been searching for a new companion pet for his brother. He adopts Andy and Ernie from a compassionate dog rescue organization, FurbabyRescue. The dogs are from a large "puppy mill" raid that occurred back in May 2009. A sheriff deputy responding to an unrelated call stumbled on to them and sought help. The local Humane Society was contacted. According to initial reports from The Humane Society of the United States, "In one of the country's largest puppy mill busts to date, more than 400 miniature dogs were found living in shopping carts, wooden crates, and other makeshift kennels caked with feces and soaked with urine."

Containing over 200 photographs--black and white in paperback and Kindle, color in Kindle Fire, Iphone and Ipad--the book illustrates the transition from traumatized rescues to happier dogs as the author strives to return order to his disordered life. Initially starting out as a short story for his family and friends, it evolved into a picture book to help inspire his older brother, who--although impaired--is more responsive to visual rather than textual cues.

The experience of caregiving members of his family, adopting and training two rescue dogs, educating himself in some of the latest technical tools, while writing a book, provided the catalyst to reevaluate every relationship in his life. Seeking resolution, he turned to various inspirational sources to help him decide what to let go of and what was important to pursue. This book then became a narration of that journey.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to animal rescue groups.